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I understand the Nalgene bottles are nearly indestructible, but for most of my camping activities, I have always used the 20oz Gatorade bottles. They're 110% watertight and have ribbed sides which makes them pretty tough. If you keep em clean, they last forever. Plus I don't like the weight of a 32oz Nalgene - I prefer two 20's for more flexibility in handling & packing.

I haven't tried the hot water bottle trick yet, but I'm gonna! Any reason a 20oz or two wouldn't work as well as a genuine Nalgene for this purpose? Also thinking it would be best to make a cozy or some type of insulation pack to release the heat slower, thus lasting longer . . . ?

-Klauss

I'd be concerned about weakening the plastic in the gatorade bottles. It's a different material, thinner, and not as durable. Definitely try it at home to see what the bottles do. I've deformed lots of plastic doing heat experiments with them....and sometimes even I had to laugh at my foolishness. Be sure it put them in thick socks or some other insulating material...thick enough to protect you and thin enough so the heat comes through.

A side benefits of using "nalgene" bottles, if you have enough insulation your breakfast water and instant oatmeal water for breakfast is ready. On one trip it hit -8 F on us. Since my water bottles were keeping me warm, I was the first to have a hot drink and breakfast the next morning.

I've been considering doing this pretty seriously,but have been hesitant to buy a bottle. Nalgene doesnt make the lexan bottles anymore, and I have heard many people say that the regular nalgenes will deform under the heat of boiling water. Any takes on that? I'm really itching to give it a try

"Go sell crazy somewhere else, we're all stocked up here"~Jack Nicholson/As Good As It Gets

I've been considering doing this pretty seriously,but have been hesitant to buy a bottle. Nalgene doesnt make the lexan bottles anymore, and I have heard many people say that the regular nalgenes will deform under the heat of boiling water. Any takes on that? I'm really itching to give it a try

I use a Nalgene to do it and have had no problems at all. Keeps me mighty warm up here in the nation's icebox.

I've been considering doing this pretty seriously,but have been hesitant to buy a bottle. Nalgene doesnt make the lexan bottles anymore, and I have heard many people say that the regular nalgenes will deform under the heat of boiling water. Any takes on that? I'm really itching to give it a try

Nalgenes are rated to 248 degrees F for the old style and the new ones are rated to 212 degrees F. Any hotter than that, and it's steam that your putting in the bottle and not water.
I've never had a Nalgene come close to melting with just hot water whereas I've had Gatorade and other bottles droop and deform with near boiling water.

Just a normal one like this. I actually used the collapsible nalgene too and it's worked as well. I just put it in a gallon ziplock bag just in case it were to spill. However, I've never woken up with any liquid in the back. (Better safe than sorry.)

There is only ONE kind of Nalgene, the rest are knockoffs. Too many people calling any water bottle a Nalgene. It must be a brand name. It's kind of like people calling ALL skid steer machines, "Bobcats", doesn't matter who made it, John Deere, Case, Cat, they all get called a Bobcat.......RR